ST. HILDA LIFE SAVERS

Evening Star, Issue 22689, 1 July 1937, Page 5

ST. HILDA LIFE SAVERS

ANNUAL SOCIAL FUNCTION The St. Kilda Life Saving Club held its annual social function at the Baths olubroom last night, the president (Mr < D. C. Bannatyne) presiding over a good attendance of members. The presentation of prizes won during the year was made by Mr Bannatyne, who presented Mr V. Newall with the champion beltman’s trophy, the Barsdell Cup, which he won as a member of the No. 2 team, and also made a presentation to Mr R. Baker, captain of the turning team, Mr Bannatyne expressed • tho regret of . members and of swimmers throughout Otago at the loss that would be suffered to swimming by the departure for Wellington shortly of Mr Newall, who had proved himself to be a fine swimmer, a good life-saver, and a thorough sportsman at all times. Mr Newall had won honours at all branches of swimming, and in water polo especially had been a big asset to Otago. His influence in the St. Kilda Club had been considerable, and had been responsible for raising the standard of performance in the club to a much higher level. Mr A. Idour proposed the toast or the Otago Surf Association, which, he said, had done much to firmly establish surf life-saving in the province, and he made special reference ,to. the fine work done by tho association’s secretary, Mr'JVM. Rodgerson. In his reply, Mr Rodgerson said that it was gratifying to observe the revival of interest at the St. Kilda end of the beach, and stressed the fact that where there were two clubs operating on a beach,’ competition was most desirable in an effort to improve .the standard of surf life-saving. Mr R. Baker proposed the, Otago Swimming Centre, and referred to the steady growth of the sport in Otago, due in no small measure to the efforts of the centre, which had done so much to swimming in all its phases. The secretary of the Otago Centre (Mr E. C. Isaacs) replied, and expressed the centre’s pleasure at the fact that 'the St. Kilda Club was now taking its part in interclub swimming competition and also in water polo. The St. Kilda Club two seasons ago had won the King George V. Memorial Cup for the B grade premiership at water polo, in which the improved showing of the team was due largely to the assistance the club had received from Mr V. Newall. Mr J. Fitzpatrick proposed the toast of “ Sister Clubs,” the replies being in the hands of Messrs D. Newall (Dunedin), A. Findlay (Kiwi), J. M. Kodgerson (St. Clair). and T. Wheelwright (Otago Rowing Club). Mr Findlay, in his reply, paid a tribute to the members of the St. Kilda Club for tbe keenness they bad shown in going for their surf medallions and for the improved standard of their life-saving work. The revival of interest was shown by the fact that St. Kilda had five teams in the competition for the Barsdell Cup. The St. Kilda Club was proposed by Mr E. C. Isaacs, who said that the club could count itself as fortunate in having some very staunch supporters behind its activities, and ho urged the committee to do all it could to encourage the younger swimming members, who would ultimately be an asset to the club in its su-f work. The reply was in the hands of Messrs A. Findlay and G. O. Wootton (secretary of the St. Kilda Club), the latter appealing to members to train hard in the coming season to make the club’s team one to be reckoned with in competition as well as in its practical work on the beach. Mr S. Mason proposed “ The Press.” Musical and elocutionary items added greatly to the enjoyment of a successful function.